Related:

Ultimately, they calculated that people paid 29.1 million visits to conserved land in Vermont between 2007 and 2014, according to Laura Sonter, the first author on the new study and a postdoctoral researcher at the university. They were even able to figure out the financial value of the visits, estimating an influx of $1.8 billion to Vermont’s economy during those years.

“Historically, it’s been difficult to assess the value of protected lands,” Sonter said in a statement. “Many parks only staff entrance booths in the summer. Some areas gather no data, or rely on surveys, which are time-consuming and expensive to collect.”

The method-- utilizing the data behind a photo-sharing website-- represents an inexpensive way for institutions to track when people visit protected natural areas, according to Sonter.